Whispers of desires

chapter 13 -The tears.

The morning sun crept over the campus as Yuvika entered, her mind still lingering on the texts from her stalker. Yet, Aarush’s comforting words from last night echoed in her head, and she felt a sliver of relief. She’d agreed to meet him that day, and now, she was torn between gratitude for his presence and a flicker of curiosity.

Her friends had dared her to figure out if he was a "green flag"—a good guy with honest intentions. Aarush seemed perfect, considerate and composed, yet something about him remained elusive, like a hidden layer just out of reach.

Yuvika was determined to find out more.

---

Aarush found her by the campus fountain. He wore his usual black outfit, looking both calm and distant, as if he was someone you could trust but never quite know. He smiled as she approached, his grey eyes lighting up beneath his dark-framed glasses.

“Hey,” he greeted softly, his voice warm and reassuring.

“Hey,” she replied, trying to steady her nerves. “Thanks for checking in on me yesterday.”

Aarush shrugged, giving her a gentle smile. “I told you, Yuvika. I’m here for you. Always.”

Something in his voice sent a soft shiver through her, yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more beneath the surface.

“So… I was thinking,” she ventured, keeping her tone casual. “You’re still pretty much a mystery to all of us. Why don’t you tell me something about yourself?”

Aarush paused, his gaze steady on her, almost as if he was deciding how much to reveal. “What would you like to know?”

Yuvika hesitated, feeling the intensity of his eyes. “I don’t know… why you transferred here, maybe? You said it was for a fresh start, but… that sounds like there’s more to it.”

For a moment, a shadow crossed his face, but he quickly replaced it with a faint smile. “Everyone has something they want to leave behind,” he said cryptically. “Let’s just say I wanted to let go of certain… ties.”

Yuvika’s curiosity deepened, though his guarded response left her with more questions than answers. Still, she couldn’t deny the magnetic pull of his presence.

---

Later that day, they found themselves in the college library, tucked away in a quiet corner as they studied. Yuvika occasionally glanced at Aarush from the corner of her eye, trying to decode the enigmatic expression he wore.

“Aarush,” she said, breaking the silence, “you’re always so calm. Aren’t you ever… scared of anything?”

He chuckled softly, his gaze fixed on his book. “Fear is just a tool. If you understand it, you can control it.”

Yuvika’s curiosity flared. “So, you don’t fear anything?”

He looked up, his grey eyes holding a glint of something unreadable. “Maybe losing what I care about,” he admitted, his voice soft but loaded with meaning.

She felt a pang in her chest, a mix of awe and suspicion. Aarush was revealing glimpses of himself, yet it felt like he was only showing her pieces of a puzzle she couldn’t quite solve.

---

During lunch, Yuvika’s friends noticed the growing bond between her and Aarush. They exchanged sly smiles, nudging her to continue her “green flag” mission.